Straw gatherer and chopper



Oct. 16, 1951 L. A. BASS STRAW GATHERER AND CHOPPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27, 1947 Inventor Lloyd A. Bass B II a and W lim Oct. 16, 1951 L. A. BASS 2,571,652

STRAW GATHERER AND CHOPPER Fild June 27, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

I n uen tor Lloyd A. Bass Oct. 16, 1951 L. A. BASS STRAW GATHERER AND CHOPPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2'7, 194'? Inventor Lloyd A. Bass 2%.. MW

Oct. 16, 1951 L. A. BASS STRAW GATHERER AND CHOPPER 4 SheetsSheet 4 Filed June 27, 194' i vm Inventor Lloyd A. Bass Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRAW GATHERER AND CHOPPER Lloyd A. Bass, Crawford, Nebr.

Application June 27, 1947, Serial No. 757,635

3 Claims.

"This invention appertains to novel and useful improvements in devices for conditioning straw and -other flora for the purpose of easily and conveniently applying the same to agricultural areas.

Anobject of this invention is to provide a frame adapted to be secured to a prime mover, a housing secured to said frame and means for raising and lowering the housing relative to the ground'as a datum.

Another object of this invention is to provide means, ancillary to wheel means, for'skiddingly engaging the ground thereby assisting in supportingthe said housing.

Another purpose of the present invention-is to provide means for selectively adjusting the skid means relative to the said housing.

Afurther purpose of this invention is to provide improved-straw pick up means and improved means'for separating the straw from said ickup means.

-A further purpose of the presentinvention is to provide, in addition to said straw pick up means, means-for cutting any straw which is standing and means for conveying all of said straw to a selected, predetermined position within said hous- A still further purpose of this invention'is to provide fracturing means adjacent said conveyor means for twisting, bending and otherwise distorting strawpriorto the admission of the same in means for crushing the straw.

Another object of thisinvention is to provide cutter means adjacent said fracturing means for the obvious purpose of slicing and otherwise cutting the straw.

Another purpose of this inventionis toprovide means for directing the conditioned straw from the housing to selected areas of theground.

Anotherpurpose ofthe present-invention is to provide resilient means for adj usting the cutter means thereby automatically retaining the same in the selectedgoperative cutting position.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide extension means'on said urging means for effectively lengthening and/or shortening the throw of the same.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty shall become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1- is an elevational side view-of the preferredform of the presentinvention;

- Fisure 2 is a plan "View of the invention-disclosed in Figural, portions broken away to illustrate details ofconstruction FigureBis-an elevational side view of the :present invention, portions being removed forclary;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure v2, taken substantially on the line 5-4 thereof and in the directions of .thearrows;

Figure'5 is an elevational side view of the present invention, portions being shown in section to illustrate details-of construction;

Figure 6 .is .a transverse sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure 4 and .takensubstantially on the :line vt 5 thereof and :in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectionalview of the detail of construction. shown in Figure 1 6, taken substantially on the line .L-l thereof-andiinlthe direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional .detailof construction taken substantially on the line 8'8 of Figure '5 and in the direction-of thearrows;

Figure 9 is an elevational fragmentary detail of construction showing 'particularly'the :straw urging means forming part of the present-inven- Figure 10 is a transversesectional-viewofthe detail of construction shown in Figure =9 and taken substantially on the line -Ill-l0 thereof and-in-thedirection of the arrows;

Figure :11 is an enlarged sectionalldetail of construction taken substantially on the line I l'--ll of Figure 2 and in the direction of the :arrows,

, and;

T Figure 12 is asectional viewtaken substantially on'the line |2-l2 of Figure 1 and inthe direction-of the-arrows, illustrating particularly the clutch means used in conjunction with the .present invention.

This invention has been conceived and developed to provide-'a device for conditioning. flora which is normally in a growing position and in a position adjacent the ground. It iswithin the purview and one of the prime purposes of the present invention to not only pickuupzxand condition growing positioned flora, butalso -to raise'and utilize the diora which is lying on the ground. a a

It is-believed that an understanding of the present invention will become readily apparent from the description of 1 the general operation of the invention and accordingly,'the same will be set forth beforegoing into thestructural detail of the invention. A frame is providedand is vice.

adapted to be secured to a suitable prime mover such as a tractor or any suitable equivalent. Then, a housing is associated with the said frame and means are provided for selectively raising and lowering the housing in order to adjust the distance between the bottom of the said housing and the grade line. This adjustment obviously regulates the depth to which the invention may operate. An aperture is provided in the undersurface of the said housing and means is journaled therein for picking up straw or the like which is in a prone position. The details of this means for picking up the straw forms an important part of the present invention and will be discussed in detail hereinafter. Then, the straw which was picked up is mechanically removed from the pick up means and conveyed longitudinally of the housing. At a position adjacent the terminal portion of the means which is used for conveying, there is provided a cutter means for the purpose of trimming straw which is in a growing position. This cutter means may be a conventional sickle bar arrangement if so desired.

At this point, in the cycle of operation, there is introduced means for urging all of the straw through a common conveyor means which leads the same to a specially provided fracturing de- This fracturing device is rotatably journaled in the said housing and is provided for the purpose of bending, twisting and otherwise manipulating the straw and also for the purpose of leading the same and urging the same toward a pair of crushing rollers. These rollers squeeze the straw and eject the same to a, position whereby efficacious cutting may take place. Of course, cutter means is provided for this purpose and then, the completely treated straw or other flora, is ejected through an exit means. Upon discharge of the treated straw, the same may be spread over a predetermined area of ground to be conditioned for agricultural purposes. Of course, it is within the purview of the present invention to provide receptacle means adjacent the ,said discharge means for the purpose of gathering and retaining the treated straw.

The above brief description of the method of operation, or more specifically, the method of conditioning straw, sets forth the general principles of operation.

The specific details of construction will be treated at this time. A frame In is provided of a plurality of truss members, tie rods and other structural elements, the actual number of truss members being left to the discretion of sound engineering principles. Any suitable, conventional hitch [4 may be provided at the rear portion of, the truss members or frame 10. Obviously; the hitch is to be utilized in connecting the said frame Hi to a suitable prime mover. An axle I2 is suitably journaled in the said frame I and conventional wheels l6 areprovided at the opposite ends thereof. A housing, generally indicated at I8, is provided with brackets 20 depending therefrom. These brackets terminate in conventional split bearings 22 which embrace the said axle I2. By this construction, it may be readily appreciated that the said housing 18 is pivotally journaled to the said axle i2 thereby associated with the said frame In.

Taking the elements which form the major portion of the present invention in the order in which they are utilized for conditioning straw or other flora, reference is made first to the means provided for picking up and separating straw which is in a prone position relative to the ground.

For the best understanding of this portion of the invention, attention is directed to Figures 4, 6 and 7. A shaft 24 is rotatably journaled transversely of the housing [8 and is positioned partially within a suitable aperture provided at the under portion thereof. A plurality of collars 26 are secured at stations along the longitudinal axis of the said shaft 24 and extensions 28 project therefrom. A plurality of cylindrical baflles 30 is interposed between the said extensions 28 and the baffles are eccentrically positioned relative to the said shaft 24. In securing the baffles in a relatively fixed position, use is made of a tie bar 32 which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shafts 24. This tie bar 32 may be anchored to the sides of the said housing I 6 by any suitable, conventional means. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 7 that the said baffle cylinders 30 are so positioned as to strip any stra-w from the extensions 28 at a certain selected portion of the travel thereof. It will be noted from a close inspection of Figure 7 that conventional keyways and keys 34 may be employed for retaining the said collars 26 in an immovable fixed position relative to the shaft 24. It is also apparent from an inspection of Figure 6 that suitable thrust bearings 36 may be employed wherever found desirous in the system. Also, slots 38 are utilized as journaling positions within said housing I8, for a purpose to be subsequently set forth.

Taking now the means for driving or actu ating the said straw pick up means, reference is made to Figure 2. Here, it is seen that a shaft 40 is provided in the said frame I0 and a universal jont 42 connects a second shaft 44 thereto. A hollow shaft 46 forms a continuation of the said shaft 44 and a slip clutch, generally indicated at 48 is then interposed in the system. This slip clutch is conventional in nature, consisting of a collar 50 which may be detachably secured to the said hollow shaft 46 by utility of screws 52. A drive shaft 54 is received in the bore of the said hollow shaft 46 and a second collar 56 is secured thereto. Now, both collars 50 and 56 are provided with gear seats 58 adapted to be in mesh. Means for resiliently biasing the said collar 56 is provided. It is noted at this point that the last mentioned collar 56 is slidably received on the shaft 54 and that th resilient biasing means is preferably a coil spring 60 interposed between said collar 56 and a relatively stationary thrust bearing 62. This thrust bearing is received on the said shaft 54 as is clearly evident from an inspection of Figure 11. It is seen that the drive shaft 54 terminates in a second universal joint 64 which has a torque tube 66 extending therefrom. This torque tube is received in a gear box transmission means 66 which has an axle housing 10 extending therefrom. Torque is transmitted from the prime mover through the various gears, clutches, universal joints and other mechanisms to a pulley 12 which is received at the terminal portion of the said shaft 24. The specific means for transmitting this torque will be described in more detail in the subsequent portion of the specification. However, for the present, it will be noted that the shaft 24 is preferably belt driven and it is for this reason that the said shaft 24 is journaled in the said slot 38. Obviously, adjustment may be effected within said slots.

Taking now the second means for, treating the said straw; there isdisclosed in Figure 4 an endless 'conve'yormeans or belt 74 journaled on suitablerollers 16. These rollershave shafts 'IB extending therethrough which are, in turn, journaled in'the sides of the said housing I8. On the outersides of the said housing I8 there is provided pulleys for the purpose of actuating the-said endless conveyor belt means. Any suitable typeof conveyor belt may be utilized.

As is well known to "those skilled in the agricultural profession, often an appreciable amount of hay or straw is left standing and a device for picking the said straw up is relatively inefficient when used in conjunction with the standing straw. Accordingly, a sickle bar cutting means is provided adjacent the rear portion of'the aperture on the underside of the said housing I8. The sickle bar construction may-be viewed in Figure-8 wherein there is disclosed a pair of brackets. 80 and82 respectively extending from the said housing I8. Bearings 84 are provided at the terminal portions of the said brackets 80 and 82 respectively and a shaft 86 is journaled therein. This shaft is provided with a plate '88- at one end thereof with a ball socket 'eccentrically secured thereon. The usual sickle bar pitman'90 is secured to said ball socket and to another suitable ball socket on a sickle bar '92. This sickle bar 92 is reciprocatably carried in a 'bracket'94 which is detachably secured to the bottom portion of the said housin I8. Conventional screws mayb utilized in this securing operation. Slots 96 are provided in the said bracket 94 and lugs 98 extend from said sickle bar within the said slots 96. Teeth I00 project from the sai'dsickle bar '92 for the purpose of not only cutting but also guiding the standing straw. Of :course, the usual stationary .guide members I02 are "positioned above the cutting teeth of the said sickle bar and cooperate therewith for cutting'purposes.

After the cut straw 'isfelled, the same is then conveyed for the second conditioning operation as follows: An endless conveyor belt I04 is journaled within the said housing I8 and is received around rollers I06 which are similar to the said rollers I6. Of course, suitable shafts I08 extend vthrough'said rollers for journaling the same in the housing I8.

Common means for urging all of the straw treated hereinabove is'provided. This common means consists of a triangular shape rotating member or reel which is journaled on a suitable Shaft I I0 'within the said housing I8. Substantially U-shaped extensions II'2 are received at the 'apex portions "of "the said triangular-like straw urging means and suitable slots are provided therein. These slots H6 have suitable securing means such as bolt and nut constructions II8 extending therethrough. Of course, a suitableslot I is also received in the said triangular shaped member for also receiving the bolt and nut construction therethrough. This urging means is positioned between the endless conveyor belts I4 and I04 respectively, thereby operating on all of the straw which has been cut.

The stationary baffle bar I22 extends transversely of the said housing I8. This transverse baflie bar is positioned adjacent the forwardmost portion of the said endless conveyor belt I04. This bafiie bar I22 is also provided for the purpose of cooperation with a fracturing means I24 which is also journaled in the said housing. This fracturing means consists of a-cylindrical 6 member having protuberances I26 extending about the periphery thereof. Also,-'a suitable shaft I28 extendsthrough said cylindrical member which is actually journaled in the saidhousing I8.

Then, it will be noted from an-inspectionof Figure 4 that a pair of rollers I30 and I32 are provided for receiving the straw from th endless conveyor means I04 and for crushing the same. Going now to Figure 3, it will be noted that the shaft I38 on which the roller I30 is journaled is received in a cage I36. A spring I39 is interposed between a bearing member, in whichthe said shaft is journaled and an upper bearing which is adjustably received in the said cage I36. A conventional wing nut and screw construction I42 may be utilized for selectively compressing or decompressing the spring I44. Of course, through this medium the idler roller I30may be adjustedas to pressure exerted therebetween and between the said roller I 32.

After the straw is crushed the said rollers conduct the same to a cuttin means positioned adjacent the rearwardmost portion of thehousing 88. This cutter means is preferably a rotatable member I46 rigidly secured t a shaft I48. The said shaft I48 terminates in the housing I8 and a plurality of arcuately curved blades I50 are conventionally secured thereto. A cutter bar of -the stationary type I52 is secured adjacent the outermost portion of each of the said cutter blades I50 while "the same are in rotation. Of course, this shears the straw and also, through the medium of the curvature of the'blades I50, the cut straw is urged through the discharge aperture l54.

Going now to the specific means for driving and controlling the above mentioned and described operating elements, reference is first made to means for pivotally adjusting the housin I8 about the said shaft i2 as-an axis. A quadrant I55 is secured to the said'frame I0 and a conven tional locking means I58 is pivoted to the 'said frame I0. A pawl I60 is also pivoted to said locking means for engagement with the slots in the quadrant I56. An actuating rod IE2 is pivoted to a selected length of the said locking means and anextension I 04 is adjustably secured thereto through the medium of a pin-aperture construction. A bell crank I66 is pivoted to the said frame I 0 and a terminal portion thereof is pivotally secured to the extension I64. The opposite end of the bell crank I66 has-a roller bearing I68 secured thereto which engages a chain means I10. This chain means is secured to a suitable bracket I12 on the said housin I0 and to a spring means I14. The said spring means has a rod I'IE secured to the opposite end thereof which extends through a housing I18. Now, this housing I18 is rigidly secured 'to the said frame IIl-andthe rod I78 terminates in an anchoring means or bracket I80. It may be readily appreciated "that upon actuation of the said bell crank through the medium of the looking means, theslack in the chain means I10 may be selectively taken up and relaxed thereby resiliently lifting the housing I8 about the axle I2 asan axis. This, of course, regulates and compensates for varied, desired heights of the cutting elements described above, relative to the ground or grading line as a datum.

In order to assist in supporting the said housing I8, skid means is provided. This skid means consists of brackets I82 securedto-the said housing I8 which terminates in longitudinal skids I84. Apertures are received in the member I82 and conventional detachable bolts with wing nuts I86 are secured therethrough. By utility of this construction, the skids I84 may be adjusted to also regulate the height of the cutting means and pick up means from the grade line.

A pulley I88 which is, in effect, a double sheave is secured to the shaft I98 in the said axle housing 18, described above. A belt, preferably a V- grooved belt, I92 is received around the said pulley I88 and also around a pulley I94 which is rigidly secured to the said shaft I48. As mentioned above, this shaft I48 has the rotatable member I46 rotatably secured thereto. A second V-grooved belt I84 is also received around the double sheave I88 and around a pulley I86, which is rigidly secured to the shaft extending through the roller I32. As also mentioned above, this roller I32 is the power roller operatively associated with the idler roller I38. A bevel gear I98 is secured to the terminal portion of the shaft associated with the said roller I32 and a second bevel gear 288 is meshed therewith. Brackets 282 terminating in bearings 84 are secured to the side of the said housing I8 and a shaft 284 is journaled therein. It is upon this shaft that the said bevel gear 288 is rigidly secured and a universal joint 286 is received on the opposite end of the said shaft 284. This universal joint has the above described shaft 88 se-' cured thereto which is utilized in actuating the eccentric plate 88 for reciprocation of the sickle bar cutter means.

Sprockets 2I8 and H2 respectively are secured 5 to the terminal portions of the shafts I28 and I88 respectively. As discussed above, the shafts are operatively associated with the fracturing means I24 and a selected roller I86 of the said endless conveyor means. This is a portion of the driving mechanism utilized in conjunction with the present invention. For the remainder of the drive mechanism, reference is made particularly to Figure 1.

Here it is seen that the shaft I38 is provided with a sprocket at the opposite end thereof, the sprocket being indicated by the numeral 2 I4, and a chain means 2 I6 extends therearound. At this point it is noted that a chain means 2I8, similar to the chain means 2I6 extends around the sprockets 2I2 and 2I8. As is well known in the art, these chains are conventional in nature, being operatively associated with conventional sprockets.

The said chain 2I4 is also received on a sprocket 228 which is rigidly secured to the shaft I48. An idler gear 222 may be received in the chain system at this point for the purpose of adjusting the tension thereof. A cage 224 is secured to the side of the housing I8 and a spring received therein. The conventional bearingadjustable bolt and wing nut construction may be utilized herewith as described above.

Sprockets are also received on the opposite terminal portions of the shaft I88 and shaft 224 which are received in the roller I32. A chain 226 is also received therearound in this transmission system. An idler gear 228 is received in the side of the said housing I8 and a conventional chain means 238 extends therearound and around another gear 232 fixed to the main axle within the housing I2. A relatively large belt 234 extends around a pulley 236 which is secured to the shaft 224. This belt also extends around a pulley 238 which is fixed to the shaft 18 then around a pulley 248, fixed to the shaft 24. The said belt 234 then continues to engage a pulley 242 which is fixed to the shaft 244. This shaft 244 has an arm 246 extending therefrom which is pivoted to the housing I8. A bracket 248 is positioned below the said arm 246 and screw means 258 is threadingly received in the said bracket 248, engaging a selected undersurface of the bracket 246. Obviously, this device may be utilized for adjusting, lengthening and shortening the emcacy of the belt 234. By utility of the above described belt arrangement, the straw cutter elements are driven. Then, as is seen in Figure 1. another belt 252 extends around a pulley 254 which is rigidly secured to the shaft I88. The said shaft I88 is obviously secured to the roller I88 which forms a portion of the endless conveyor means described hereinbefore. The said belt 252 derives its power from the chain driven idler gear 228 which has a pulley 256 fixed immovably on the back thereof or if desired, fixed immovably to the shaft 258 on which the said idler gear 228 is attached.

A clutch mechanism is supplied on the end of the shaft of the idler roller. When the invention is moving forward, there will be times when the same picks up large amounts of straw. Too much straw might be received within the housing I8 so that the cutter means would be rendered inefficient. Accordingly, with the addition of a clutch assembly (see Fig. 12) for use in association with the idler roller, the amount of straw which is compressed between said rollers I38 and I32 may be regulated thereby regulating the amount of straw which is introduced to the cutter means. This clutch is in the form of an automatic device whereby upon too much separation of the rollers I30 and I32, the lower or drive roller is disengaged from the usual drive. A sleeve member 268 is slidably received on the shaft I88 and it is on this sleeve member that the gear 2 I4 is placed. A friction plate 262 is secured to said sleeve 268 and a second friction plate 264 is secured to a second slidable sleeve member 266 which is slidably splined on the shaft I88. The bracket 268 is secured to a selected portion of the housing I8 and a bell crank 218 is pivoted thereto. In this portion of the invention, a bearing block 212 is supplied with the usual spring I44 and adjusting means I42. It will be noted that the bearing block 212 is somewhat different from the lower portion member I38 in that an arm 214 extends therefrom. A slot is provided in the said extension arm 214 and an adjustable nut and bolt construction is received therein. The opposite end of the said nut and bolt construction terminates in a pivot means which is secured to a selected end of the bell crank 218. A spring 216 is biased against a suitable thrust bearing 218 which is rigidly attached to the shaft I88 and also biased against the slidable collar or sleeve 286. By this construction, it may be readily appreciated that upon lifting of the pressure roller I38 the clutch members formed by the plates 262 and 264 may be Selectively engaged and disengaged.

While there has been described and illustrated but a single preferred embodiment of the present invention, capable of performing all of the speeifically mentioned objects, as well as other objects, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes including omissions and additions may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A straw cutter comprising an axle assembly with wheels mounted at opposite ends thereof, a frame connected to said assembly and adapted to be drawn by a tractor, a housing, means secured at one end of said housing pivotally attaching said housing to said assembly, a skid for said housing secured to the housing at the opposite end thereof, said housing having a field straw inlet opening, means disposed in said opening and carried by the housing for picking up fallen straw, a straw fracturing device secured to and within said housing adjacent its end opposite said inlet opening, means journaled within said housing for conveying picked up fallen straw to said fracturing means, a cutter for standing straw and carried by said housing behind said fallen straw pick up means and disposed in said opening, means for conveying cut straw into said fracturing device, and a reel journaled in said housing between said fallen straw conveying means and said out straw conveying means.

2. A straw cutter comprising an axle assembly with wheels mounted at opposite ends thereof, a frame connected to said assembly and adapted to be drawn by a tractor, a housing, means secured at one end of said housing pivotally attaching said housing to said assembly, a skid for said housing secured to the housing at the pposite end thereof, said housing having a field straw inlet opening, means disposed in said opening and carried by the housing for picking up fallen straw, a straw fracturing device secured to and within said housing adjacent its end opposite said inlet opening, means journaled within said housing for conveying picked up fallen straw to said fracturing means, a cutter for standing straw and carried by said housing behind said fallen straw pick up means and disposed in said opening, means for conveying cut straw into said fracturing device, a reel journaled in said housing between said fallen straw conveying means and said out straw conveying means, and said housing having a fractured straw outlet therein located rearwardly of said fracturing device.

3. The combination of claim 1 and means connected to said housing and frame for pivotally lifting said housing, and means yieldingly holding said housing in a selected pivoted position.

LLOYD A. BASS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 51,650 Craven Dec. 19, 1865 1,053,467 Allen Feb. 18, 1913 1,165,119 Parmelee Dec. 21, 1915 1,427,931 Batla et a1. Sept. 5, 1922 1,457,424 Bunch June 5, 1923 1,527,699 Pelland Feb. 24, 1925 2,252,376 Hyman -1 Aug. 12, 1941 2,345,715 Reed Apr. 4, 1944 2,439,259 McCormack Apr. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12779/19 Australia Oct. 6, 1920 

